title: Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation in elderly men: a meta-analysis study of placebo-controlled trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Age-related dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) deficiency has been associated with a broad range of biological abnormalities in males.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to meta-analyze all double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of oral DHEA (DHEA supplementation) in comparison with placebo on sexual and metabolic outcomes in elderly men.
  
  
  METHODS
  An extensive Medline Embase and Cochrane search was performed including the following words: DHEA, RCTs, and males.
  
  
  METHODS
  Only double-blind placebo-controlled trials performed in elderly men were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data extraction was performed independently by 2 of the authors (A.S. and V.G.), and conflicts were resolved by the third investigator (G.C.). The quality of RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 220 retrieved articles, 25 were included in the study. The available RCTs enrolled 1353 elderly men, with a mean follow-up of 36 weeks. DHEA supplementation was associated with a reduction of fat mass (standardized mean difference of -0.35 [-0.65 to -0.05]; P = .02). However, the association with fat mass disappeared in a multivariate regression model after adjusting for DHEA-related metabolite increases such as total testosterone and estradiol. In contrast to what was observed for fat mass, no effect of DHEA supplementation in comparison with placebo was observed for various clinical parameters including lipid and glycemic metabolism, bone health, sexual function, and quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present meta-analysis of intervention studies shows that DHEA supplementation in elderly men can induce a small but significant positive effect on body composition that is strictly dependent on DHEA conversion into its bioactive metabolites such as androgens or estrogens.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Unit, Medical Department, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Bologna, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, 40133 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rastrelli
authors.forename: Vito A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Giagulli
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sila
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sforza
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forti
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mannucci
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maggi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone